Medicine
-
Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), a liver-induced glycoprotein enzyme responsible for antioxidant defense against reactive oxygen species and anti-inflammatory, has been linked to various cancers. The objective of this study was to explore the association of PON1 rs662 and rs705382 with the risk of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients living in the Guangxi region of southern China. The PON1 rs662 and rs705382 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 99 CHB patients, 84 LC patients, 258 HCC patients, and 221 healthy controls. ⋯ Moreover, a decreased risk of LC was associated with the rs705382 CG and the combined GG + CG genotypes among women, with borderline statistical significance. In haplotype analyses, the haplotype GA was associated with a 1.68-fold increase in the risk of HCC. Our results showed that the PON1 rs705382 SNP might be a risk factor for CHB in Guangxi populations.
-
Observational Study
Trends in Outcomes for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest by Age in Japan: An Observational Study.
Population aging has rapidly advanced throughout the world and the elderly accounting for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has increased yearly. We identified all adults who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the All-Japan Utstein Registry of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, a prospective, population-based clinical registry, between 2005 and 2010. Using multivariable regression, we examined temporal trends in outcomes for OHCA patients by age, as well as the influence of advanced age on outcomes. ⋯ Similar trends were found in the secondary outcomes. Although neurological outcomes from OHCA ware worse as the age group was older, the rates of favorable neurological outcomes have substantially improved since 2005 even in the elderly, including the oldest old. Careful consideration may be necessary in limiting treatment on OHCA solely for the reason of advanced age.
-
Review Meta Analysis
Impact of Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Mortality After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 100 Studies.
Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome can easily give rise to coronary heart disease (CHD). However, due to the existence of the so-called "obesity paradox" and "smoking paradox," the impact of these modifiable cardiovascular risk factors on mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still not clear. Therefore, in order to solve this issue, we aim to compare mortality between patients with low and high modifiable cardiovascular risk factors after PCI. ⋯ However, an unexpectedly, significantly lower mortality risk was observed among the smokers and obese patients. Certain modifiable cardiovascular risk subgroups had a significantly higher impact on mortality after PCI. However, mortality among the obese patients and the smokers showed an unexpected paradox after coronary intervention.
-
Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) due to end-stage liver disease is vital to shorten hospital stays and reduce mortality. Many studies have explored the potential usefulness of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in predicting SBP. The aim of this study is to evaluate the overall diagnostic accuracy of PCT levels for identifying SBP due to end-stage liver disease. ⋯ There was evidence of significant heterogeneity but no evidence of publication bias. Serum PCT is a relatively sensitive and specific test for the identification of SBP. However, due to the limited high-quality studies available, medical decisions should be carefully made in the context of both PCT test results and other clinical findings.
-
Although CD3-CD56+NKp44+ natural killer (NKp44+NK) cells have been linked to autoimmune diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and primary Sjogren syndrome, the expansion and role of those cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain less defined. Here, we investigate the proportion and pathogenesis of NKp44+NK cells in patients with RA. The results show NKp44+NK cells significantly expanded in RA peripheral blood and synovial fluid, which were correlated positively with RA disease activity. ⋯ Treated with recombination human IL-22, the proliferation and phosphorylation-STAT3 on RA-FLS increased in a dose-dependent manner and time-dependent manner; the progress of which could be blocked by AG490. The present study clarifies the expansion of NKp44+NK cells in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of patients with RA, especially in the synovial tissues of RA for the first time. STAT3 is an essential pathway in mediating the effects of IL-22 secreted by NKp44+NK cells on the proliferation of FLS in patients with RA.